Proudly Displayed

An old soldier was sitting on a park bench When I happened to stop and rest awhile He said I’m getting weary of these days As I see my old comrades fade away He looked at the poppy I was wearing You know your poppy should be worn with pride With some saying men should wear it on the left And women should wear it on the right Although the Queen wears hers on her left For the red of the poppy is for the blood shed On those terrible dark days remembered The black centre is in grief for those we lost Finally remember to wear it at 11 am on your chest For the time the guns fell silent I shook his hand and said Thank-you for your service And I left him sitting in the sun An ANZAC with his duty done So proudly wear your poppy for them. © Paul Warren Poetry